Harold Fannin Jr. found the end zone twice last week, and yeah, that’s exciting to see on your fantasy scores. But seriously, do not let those two scores trick you into locking him into your Week 4 lineup. Dave Richard is diving deep into the toughest calls for fantasy managers right now, and Fannin is absolutely one of those guys you need to scrutinize. Making smart lineup decisions isn’t about who you drafted first, it’s about the matchups, every single week.
Two Scores, But What Really Happened?
Sure, Fannin got some touchdowns, which is cool for real life and fantasy. But here’s the kicker: he wasn’t actually the primary read on either of those plays. And on top of that, Watson had a ton of time to throw on both scores, with the pass rush only really stressing him on one of them. It’s not like Fannin was out there making incredible, highlight-reel plays through heavy pressure. Now, the Steelers’ defense has been pretty soft against tight ends, letting up three long receptions in their last two games, often because of bad coverage. So, there’s a chance Fannin could stumble into another big play if the coverage is sloppy.
The Zone Coverage Red Flag You Can’t Ignore
But when you actually dig into the numbers, especially against zone coverage, it gets way dicier for Fannin. He hasn’t done much with his catches versus zone, pulling in just 7.0 yards per target and a low 1.47 yards per route run. And guess what team he’s facing? The Steelers, who lead the entire NFL in zone-coverage snaps. They stick with that zone defense too, especially when they’re winning or in a competitive game. Even though Fannin has a 22% target-per-route-run rate against zone, his downfield routes don’t scream “big play waiting to happen,” running 10-plus yards on only 10 of his 86 routes this season. Dave Richard’s advice is clear: you might be better off rolling the dice on guys like Darren Waller in a sweet matchup or Kenyon Sadiq banking on another good week.
Week 4 kicks off tonight with the Steelers and Browns, and if you’re staring at Harold Fannin Jr. in your fantasy lineup, seriously reconsider. Don’t chase last week’s touchdowns. Trust the matchups, trust the numbers, and look for a more reliable play. Good luck with your lineups this week, everybody!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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